Brandy is created by distilling wine and usually has 35 to 60 percent alcohol by volume. People commonly drink it after dinner. Some of the brandies will age in wooden casks while others have caramel coloring to imitate this effect, while others use both methods. Brandy is part of many classic cocktails.

For making brandy drinks, you will simply add the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker along with some ice, then shake the mixture well, and strain the drink into a cocktail glass (chilled) before serving it.

10 Brandy Drinks Recipes

1

Brandy Daisy

This type of cocktail is a group of drinks with the same base spirit, simple syrup, maraschino or curacao, soda water and lemon juice. It dates all the way back to the late 19th century.

Ingredients

Amount

Brandy

2 ounces

Rum

2 dashes

Curacao liqueur

2 to 3 dashes

Simple syrup

3 to 4 dashes

Lemon juice

From ½ a lemon

Soda water

To taste

2

Sidecar

This type of cocktail is a group of drinks with the same base spirit, simple syrup, maraschino or curacao, soda water and lemon juice. It dates all the way back to the late 19th century.

Ingredients

Amount

Brandy

2 ounces

Rum

2 dashes

Curacao liqueur

2 to 3 dashes

Simple syrup

3 to 4 dashes

Lemon juice

From ½ a lemon

Soda water

To taste

3

Metropolitan

This recipe was appeared in The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book in 1935, and nowadays it has a slight variation. It included ⅔ Manhattan bitters, which no longer exist, and ⅓ vermouth at that time. It is also known as a Harvard or Brandy Manhattan, but those cocktails are typically made without the syrup.

Ingredients

Amount

Brandy

1 ½ ounces

Sweet vermouth

1 ounce

Simple syrup

½ teaspoon

Angostura bitters

2 dashes

4

Prescription Julep

This drink combines rye whiskey with cognac so that each drink complements the other. You begin by dissolving the sugar and crushing the fresh mint before adding the shaken brandy.

Ingredients

Amount

Good brandy like VSOP cognac

1 ½ ounces

Rye whiskey

½ ounce

Sugar

2 teaspoons (dissolved within ½ ounce of water)

Fresh mint

2 sprigs, plus for garnish

5

B&B

This classic cocktail’s full name is Brandy & Benedictine. It is typically served on the rocks, although you can have it warmer. It is great for a nightcap or after dinner drink.

Ingredients

Amount

Brandy

1 ounce

Benedictine

1 ounce

6

Champagne Cocktail

Although you find many cocktails with champagne, this drink is unique. The brandy and bitters add refreshing warmth to the cocktail while the sugar dissolves and makes beautiful bubbles that are fun. Be sure to opt for a good champagne and add the ingredients in the order listed.

Ingredients

Amount

Sugar cube

1

Angostura bitters

2 to 3 dashes

Brandy

1 ounce

Champagne

To taste

Orange slice

As garnish

Maraschino cherry

As garnish

7

Tom and Jerry

This classic winter cocktail is sweet, warm and frothy. It works best when made with hot milk as opposed to hot water. To make the drink, separate the eggs, beating them apart before folding together. Then add the ingredients in order and stir well.

Ingredients

Amount

Egg

1

Simple syrup (or powdered sugar)

½ ounce (or 1 teaspoon of the sugar)

Dark rum

1 ounce

Brandy or Cognac

1 ounce

Hot milk or water

As you like

Grated nutmeg

As garnish

8

Jack Rose

There are many historical theories behind this drink which include Bald Jack Rose (a gambler), the pink “Jacquemot” rose or Joseph P. Rose (a restaurateur).

Ingredients

Amount

Applejack

2 ounces

Fresh lemon juice

¾ ounce

Homemade grenadine

½ ounce

Apply, thinly sliced

As optional garnish

9

Vieux Carré

This New Orleans classic was created in the 1930s and is still a specialty of the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone.

Ingredients

Amount

Rye whiskey

¾ ounce

Cognac

¾ ounce

Noilly Prat Rouge Vermouth

¾ ounce

Benedictine

1 teaspoon

Peychaud Bitters

2 dashes

Angostura Bitters

2 dashes

10

Fort Washington Flip

This drink has a hint that winter has passed.

Ingredients

Amount

Apple brandy

1 ½ ounces

Benedictine

¾ ounce

Maple syrup

½ ounce

Egg

1

Nutmeg

As garnish

Tips

Quality is Crucial: Always opt for a good brandy, but don’t use an incredibly expensive or old one. Also opt for qualified and fit sweetener. Sidecars, for example, do best with Cointreau as a sweetener.

Adjust the Proportions: As you start mixing drinks, feel free to adjust the proportions for taste. Many early recipes had equal ratios, but that doesn't always match everyone’s taste.